NBL Reconciliation Action Plan to Strengthen Pathways for Indigenous Players

Creating greater opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander basketballers is a key commitment of the National Basketball League’s inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
 
The NBL today launched its RAP to mark NAIDOC Week, celebrating the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with this year’s theme 'Always Was, Always Will Be'.
 
The RAP was developed by the NBL’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group co-chaired by the General Manager of The Long Walk and Indigenous Affairs Advisor at the Essendon Football Club, Leanne Brooke, and NBL Commissioner, Jeremy Loeliger.
 
NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman said: “As a leading sporting and community organisation, the NBL is committed to using its influence and profile to further advance the process of reconciliation and national unity.
 
“Reconciliation is about strengthening meaningful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples and where First Nations people are respected, celebrated and championed.
 
“We are committed to recognising and advancing the specific contribution that Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples have made to the development and success of Australian basketball.
 
“Basketball is one of the most culturally diverse and inclusive sports in Australia and the second most participated team sport. As Australia’s premier basketball league, the NBL’s aim is to unite our varied and vast basketball communities.”
 
Co-Chair of NBL’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group Leanne Brooke said: “As a proud Gunditjmara woman, I have been pleased to be part of the NBL’s Reconciliation journey. This RAP is a very important step in that journey.
 
“With this RAP, the NBL is committed to doing more to acknowledge the contributions made by Indigenous communities, not just in the game of basketball but to our broader culture and society and develop pathways and opportunities for Indigenous people in basketball.”
 
Key commitments of the RAP include:

• Increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander player recruitment, retention and professional development
• Establishing talent identification and selection criteria with a view to nine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players participating in its NBL Next Gen program each year
• From the 2021/22 season, the NBL will fund 50% of the minimum salary for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players engaged by NBL Clubs as Development Players
• For all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players engaged by NBL Clubs as rostered players for the first time from the 2021/22 season onwards, none of their salary will count towards the salary cap for the duration of their first contract and only 50% of their salary will count towards the salary cap for the duration of their second contract
• Recruitment of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Player Wellbeing Officer within NBL Headquarters
• The NBL will assist each participating Club to identify local support networks that can provide additional resources and act as an additional point of contact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players and staff members who may require local support from time to time

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NBL'S REFLECT RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

 
NBL Commissioner and Co-Chair of the NBL Working Group Jeremy Loeliger said: “The NBL has long celebrated the values of inclusion and diversity but we have not yet sufficiently recognised, in a consistent and sustainable way, the specific contribution that Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples have made to the development and success of Australian basketball, nor have we implemented sufficient programs to ensure talent identification, encouragement and development.
 
“Last season we staged our inaugural NBL Indigenous Round and we are committed to developing this in the coming seasons and ensure we deliver meaningful benefits to Indigenous communities. With this RAP we are committed to closing the gap by creating education and employment opportunities and building a culturally inclusive workplace.
 
“Now we start the work of participating in the effort to not only identify the next generation of budding Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander talent, but to encourage their ongoing development and their promotion into the ranks of professional basketball. We are tremendously excited to be playing a role in the journey.
 
“I want to thank Leanne Brooke and the Working Group for their commitment to delivering our inaugural RAP. We have also been fortunate to be joined by important figures in Australian basketball in Nate Jawai, Cal Bruton, Tyson Demos, Ricky Baldwin, Danny Morseu and Kerry Williams. Their knowledge and expertise is critical to us in developing a greater understanding of Indigenous Australia.
 
“As a sport we have been enriched by the contribution of a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, coaches, referees and administrators and this RAP commits us to supporting and developing pathways in the game for young Indigenous people.”
 
Members of the NBL’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group are:

• Leanne Brooke – General Manager of The Long Walk and Indigenous Affairs Advisor at the Essendon Football Club (Co-Chair)
• Jeremy Loeliger – NBL Commissioner (Co-Chair)
• Ricky Baldwin - Vice President of Australian Indigenous Basketball (AIB) and Head Coach of the Australian Indigenous Women’s Basketball Team
• Cal Bruton - Director of Capital Basketball and NBL Hall of Fame Member
• Tyson Demos - President of Australian Indigenous Basketball (AIB) and former NBL player
• Nate Jawai - Lead ambassador for the Taipans Indigenous Program (TIP) and current NBL player for the Cairns Taipans
• Danny Morseu – Director National Indigenous Basketball Academy and NBL Hall of Fame Member
• Anita Pahor – Philanthropy and CSR Director, LK Group
• Kerry Williams  - Community Development Manager at the Cairns Taipans and Manager of the Taipans Indigenous Program (TIP)
• Ben Jopling – NBL (Secretary)